Counting and filling machine



July 20, 1943. F. cHlLsoN Erm. n

COUNTING AND FILLING MACH-INE Filed sept. 25, 1941 5 .sheets-.shea 2 llwwt gms/whew m5001503 v L M/VMM?,

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 F CHILSON TAL coUNTI-NG AND FILLING MACHINE File'a sept. 25. 1941- am 4 9 4nl. 0, 2 v. ...m J

July 20, 1943.

F. CHILSON ET AL COUNTING AND FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fwn/V625 002.50m,

z Tof/VBERG,

@M fJmam/l `Patented July 20, 1943 V1s claims.

following description relates to counting and. filling machines by whichV -pills;pellets, tablets-or other similar vsmall objectsV may be individually picked up from a supply anddeliveredto containers in predetermined numbers. The invention is particularlyV applicableto filling bottles, l vials and similar containers with' a predeter' individual articlesv shall; be packaged without suiering lbreakage or being spoiled, In many instances the individual articlesfsuch .as-pills would create a distinct industrial hazardto any one handling them for packaging in `large quantities. f It is an object of our invent-ion tof provide a deterioration or hazard to the operator. i

It 'is alsoan object ci?v ourinvention; to handle vidual articles are handled without breakage,-

` nection means are providedforconstantlyclean= ing the counting and filling elementslj' `t' A` further object of ourinventionis to p -rovide means by which thevnumuer' orgjquantity ,or

Incidental tennis object it is our? v `vide-mechanism which will determine th'llr.

3 container.

` i A still further object of our i provide featuresby which the operation. of piel;-

or regularity of the individual articles.,r Thusrthei but also flat tablets and 4those havinguirregular- Chifle. l 1 .y Among the objects of the iriv 4 `ing the receiving container ery. of the articles (pills etc.) to the open u, `.of the containers will be most certain and-with `a minimum ofiree drop. j. i l

In order to illustratethe preferir-ecl-` form of mechanism-for carrying `out'the above and,other` purposes of our invention wehave, illustrated it: by `way of example in the accfi.rnrallying;Ythaw.

ings in which i f i may contain powerful medicine or poison which counting and lling machine; in which the indi;`

` the pills or other articles without` causing the` machine to be soiled or put` outof condition by;A contact with the material handled. In this coil.-

`ber of pills or the like which are finedint each invent-io ny is to'` `ing up is carried out regardless of the size'. shapefmachine will operate .not` onlywith; roundgpills.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE `2,324,823 coUN'rINc.` nNnFILLrNG MACHINE Application September 25, 1941, Serial No. 412,314

Our invention which is set outin detail ini the-v Fig. 1 is a side elevation,` partly in section. of our counting and filling' machine;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation vof the same;

Fig. 3 is a top plan viewof the machine;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectionlon theline t-i of Fig; 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal-1 sectionfof a modified form taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 6; Y

6 is a vertical section of` the same taken on the line 6--6 of- Fig, 5;

Fig."7 is a vertical longitudinal sectionof an.- other modified form of' the invention taken`- on theline 'L-T of Fig. 8;

Fig. 8 is anend4 elevation of. the same partly in-rsection and Fig. 91is-a planvviewof the right hand end; of Fig. 7. l

The principle under which our invention operates is that a circular drummay be providedkwith perforations in a desired arrangementV through y which suction is applied-to take holdoforenshapesor all sizes within the capacity Vof theA gage small articles restinglloosely in a hopper adjacent the drum. These small articles` are seized without being damaged and fare: given a travel to a point where.' the suction is being re.-

leased, whereupo-nthe individual :articles such as pills will drop by gravity intoone or a series `the articles cned mienne individualcontainers -afmlesshallbe positively and effectively p eieterrii,inedv` pose. to` pro-f.

According to the form'of the inventiondill'us trated the machine islmountedupon a xedJbase lI-I, At suitably spaced intervals the baseisup'.- ports threestanolards` E2,k llandi Iffi. Standards I2 and l?,` form `journals for hollowfshafit, I5.

' This shaft' is `rotated at the desired speed: lovy means of a drive belt fl and apulley wheel H.V The inner endof the shaft l5 terminates; infa,` drum I8, theV end I9 of which forms a partof the shaft. The cylindrical side ZBi-of the drum isopen atv its oppositeend.

The cylindricalsideZ has a number` of small perforationsiZl. These are arrangediniacontoi. the other;

These perforations or apertures formnpassagh.- ways through which suction is Sappliedby means ofia suction connection 22V at fthe oppositeendof thehollow shaft I5.

In order to make the engagement with thepills or. other articles more certain, to protect.' the`V latter from` damage and: further to; prevent the engagement 1ofmore` than` a' single pill ati eaii aperture, the latter are provided with bushings 23. Such bushings are made of soft rubber or the like and project slightly above the surface of the cylinder 20.

Suitably supported upon the base and fitting closely around one side of the cylinder 20 of the drum is a hopper 24. This hopper extends for the full length of the cylinder 20 and contains a quantity of the loose articles such as pills.

'I'he hopper has an unrestricted open top permitting the individual pills 25 to be carried up and away from the mass by means of a suction applicable through the apertures 2| (see Fig. 2).

The third standard I4 in alignment with the standards I2 and I3 is substantially the same circular configuration and size as the drum I8. The standard carries three rollers 25 which serve to maintain the open end of the cylinder 29 in its proper axial position.

The lower portion of the standard |4 carries a cutoff block 21. This cutoff block fits closely within the cylinder 2D and occupies a minor sector of the space within the latter. As shown in Fig. 2 it is adjustable by means of nuts 28, 28 so that the inclination of its top surface and the position of its longitudinal edges may 'be adjusted to provide for proper timing of the release from suction. Thus the suction through the hollow pipe I will be applicable only to those apertures 2| no obscured or cut off by the block.

As shown in Fig. 4 the block 21 has a series of jets 29 in its forward edge and these jets are connected with a manifold 30 which in turn receives compressed air through pipe 3|. The purpose of such jets is to forcibly disconnect the individual pills from their engagement with the bushed apertures 2| as soon as the suction is removed by the passage of the cylinder 20 along the block 21.

The standard I4 has a bearing which carries a threaded screw shaft 32 projecting inwardly on the axis of the shaft I5. This shaft may be turned in its bearing in standard I4 by means of the hand crank 33 to provide suitable adjustment in the feed or filling operation.

This adjustment is carried out by providing a partition 34. This partition as shown in Fig. 4 is part circular and occupies the cross-section of the cylinder 20 not lled by the block 21. 'I'he partition 34 has a screw-threaded hub 35 carried on the shaft `32. The shaft 32 has ten threads per inch so that a single rotation of the shaft serves to block off one aperture 2| of the spiral series. In this way close control can be given to the number of apertures subject to the force of the suction. The loss of suction around the edge of the disk or partition 34 is taken care of by the quantity of suction applied through pipe 22.

As a means of readily indicating the position of the partition 34 we have provided on standard I4 a spring-wound tape 36 the end of which is connected to the partition 34. graduated in tenths of an inch and thus reads directly for the number of exposed apertures. The appropriate number is indicated by the pointer 31 xedly mounted on the standard I4 adjacent the tape 36.

The shaft I5 carries a worm 38 which is in engagement with a gear 39 on shaft 49 suitably journalled on a bracket I2' extending from the standard I2. sprocket wheel 4I. At each opposite endof the base II there is journalled a sprocket 42,

The tape is The shaft 49 also' carries the V 42. An endless conveyor 43 runs over the sprockets 42, 42. This endless conveyor is in the form of a sprocket chain and is driven by the sprocket 4|.

Suitably spaced along the sprocket chain 43 is a series of brackets 44. The spacing indicated in the example taken would be two and one-half inches so that it will conform to the distance between successive convolutions of the spiral apertures.

Each bracket 44 has an upstanding lateral spring clip 45, As indicated in the drawings the spring clip 45 supports a container which may be a vial, bottle or the like 4B by suspending the latter beneath its neck.

As the shaft I5 is revolved Iby the belt I6 the drum I8 rotates along one side of the open hopper 24. The suction applied through the pipe 22 and the hollow shaft I5 is applicable through the apertures 2| not blocked off by the block 21 or the partition 34. Each aperture 2| engages a pill 25 or the like and the latter may be held rmly either against the smooth metallic surface of the cylinder 20 or preferably against the soft flexible bushing 23 around each aperture 2|. As the pills are raised by the cylinder they are retained until the respective apertures 2| come beneath the forward edge of the cut off block 21. The suctin then being released pills 25 drop by gravity in the container 46. In order to facilitate this operation a jet of compressed air from the passageway 29 forcibly separates the pill from the cylinder 20. At the same time the air blast will clear the aperture and cylinder of any adhering particles.

The successive receptacles 46 pass along the drum in timed sequence so that each receptacle receives a pill from each of the effective apertures 2|. Thus the filling of the receptacle is limited to the number of apertures in effective operation.

The control of the number of effective apertures can likewise be carried out by adjusting the length of the hopper 24 as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6. Here the hopper has a movable end 41 which maybe selectively anchored along the graduated hopper edge 48. Thus the space occupied by the pills 25 is under control. In the form shown in these gures as in Figures 1 and 2, the successive receptacles 4B pass along the drum in timed sequence so that each receptacle receves a pill from each of the effective apertures 2|. Thus the4 filling of thel receptacles is limited to the number of apertures in effective operation.

Where this form of hopper is used the inner block 49 is substantially a cylinder closely fitting the cylinder 20. The periphery of the cylinder 49 is channeled out to form a suction passageway 5U. This passageway is connected to the hollow shaft I5 while the opposite end of the cylinder 49 is mounted fixedly on the standard I4. The force of the suction is suicient to provide adequate engagement to the effective apertures 2| as well as those opposite the unused The drum 56 is journalled upon the inner ends of the trunnions 53, 54. The drum comprises opposite heads 51, 58 journalled on trunnions 53, 54 respectively. The heads 51, 58 are connected by a cylinder 59 having a spiral series of perforations on a two and one-half inch pitch with twenty-five holes in each convolution. Each hole maybe provided with a rubber engaging member asalready described. i l

` The cylinder head 58 has a pulley groove 6l) in its periphery to receive a belt 6I. The outer face of the head 58 has an Yaxial boss forming a sprocket 62 on which the sprocket chain 63 is carried. The drum 59 is rotated by power from the chain 63.

Inside the drum 56 a cutoff block 64 is suspended from the inner ends' of the trunnion 53, 54 and is in close sealing contact with the inner wall of the cylinder 59, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8.

The shaft 32`extends inwardly of the trunnion 53 and is screw-threaded on a pitch of onetenth of an inch. The outer end of the shaft 32 has a sprocket $5 which carries a chain 66. A cutoif disk 61 is threaded on the shaft 32 and fits closely on the cross-sectional area within the drum 56 not occupied bythe cutoff block 64.

The hopper 24 has a stepped bottom with an upper portion B3 and a lower portion 69 slightly separated therefrom as shown in Fig. 8. A slide 1B rests upon the lower step of the hopper 69 between the adjacent portion of the drum cylinder 53 and the upper step 58. A hopper end or balilell is attached to the slide for the purpose of limiting the effective length of the hopper to be occupied by the pills or other articles treated.

Move-ment of the slide 10 and bale 1I longitudinally of the hopper is effected by a threaded sleeve 12 attached to a depending portion of the slide 16J; This threaded sleeve 12 travels on a screw-threaded shaft 13v which is suitably journalled` in the opposite standards 5|, 52. As shown in Fig. 1 the outer end of the shaft 13 carries a hand crank 14 for suitable longitudinal adjustment of the slide 10 and hopper end 1l.

Shaft 13 also carries a sprocket 15 which connects by means of chain 56 to a sprocket 65. In this way the cutoff disk B1 and thehopper 1| are at all `times in the same relative position with respect to thedrum 56. This insures restricting the material in the hopper to that portion of the drum which is under the effective vacuum.

Each standard 5l, 52 has a bushing 16 which is extended outwardly to form a pivot for a bracket 11. Toward the front, each standard 5i, 52 has a vertical slot 1B. A tie rod 19 extends into both standards and also the adjacent brackets 11, 11. The rods 19 are carried in holes in brackets 11 so that the latter may be simultaneously adi justed in a vertical direction as indicated in Fig. 8.

Bushing 16 of standard 52 forms a bearing for rotary shaft BQ. This shaft has a sprocket 8|. This bracket 11 has a lateral extension 82 and a rotary shaft 83 is journalled within this extension parallel to the main portion of the bracket 11 (see Fig. 9). i

` A miter gear 84 meshes with a miter gear 85 on the outer end of the shaft 3B. The sprocket A8| carries chain 53 already described as supplying power to the rotary drum.

Across the front of the machine and connecting the ends ofthe brackets 11, 11 there is attached a bar 85. This bar has depending ends 81, 81.

A series of fouridle sprockets 88 are carried on the bar 86, with its ends 81 and thus form a quadrilateral support for a conveyor chain 89. This chain alsopasses overa drive sprocket 90 on the power shaft 33. Suitably spaced along the conveyor chain 89 is a series of brackets 44. One bracket is beneath each convolution of the drum 55. The bracketsV terminate in clips 45Y which serve to hold the neck of bottles or other containers 46 regardless of the shape or sizeof the latter.

The operation of this form of the-invention is I the orifices of the cylinder 59 and held in place by the suction. The article is carried around the drum to a point where the cutoff block 64 breaks the vacuum and permits the pill to be dropped into the `open mouth of the bottle.- Angular adjustment of the cutotlY block 64 determines the most satisfactory point of release for the individual pills.

In like manner the container such as the bottle may be lifted to a point close to the delivery point ofthe drum `and thus minimize the possibility of the pill missing the mouth of the bottle or being required to fall more than is necessary. It is of course understood that the bottle is traversed along the drum so that it is beneath the point of delivery of each successive aperture in the spiral series. In this way the bottle after having passed the end of the drum will have received as many pills as there were effective apertures in the series.

It is of course obvious that the rotation of the drum and the travel of the conveyor is effected bodiment ofV our invention Vas described herein isintended as illustrative, rather than limiting, and that many modifications within the `scope of theV inventionlmay occur to those skilled in the art. Thusany changes may be made in proportion, `details and materials within the'spirit of the invention and` without departing` from the scope thereof as dened in the appended claims. For example, in the drum the holes or apertures may be disposed in parallel. rows instead of` spiral rows with means for rotating the drum intermittently or through a portion of its revolution instead of continuously. The containers in such a case might well be placed in front of the several rows of holes to receive the desired number of pills and then removed and replaced with anew set of containers. Such construction or. modification eliminates the use of a continuously moving conveyor for the con tainers and substitutes ank intermittent motion to the rotary drum instead of a continuous one.I

What we claimis: Y

1. A machine for counting and handling articles comprising a hopper, acarrier constantly moving through the hopper, means on the carrier for engaging articles in the hopper, means for varying the number of articles. engaged, pneumatic means for holding the articles so engaged, a traveling conveyor moving in synchronism with the movement of the carrier and containers removably held on the conveyor.

2. In combination, a drum having a series of apertures on its surface arranged spirally about the drum, means for continuously rotating the drum, a hopper on one side of the drum', means for applying suction within said drum, and a cut-off block within the lower portion of the drum.

3. In combination, a drum having a series of apertures on its surface, means for continuously rotating the drum, a hopper on one side of the drum, means for applying suction Within said drum, a cutoff block within the lower portion of the drum, a cutoff disk adjustable axially within the drum, a movable partition for the hopper and means for moving the disk and partition simultaneously.

4. In combination, a drum having a series of apertures on its surface arranged in the form of a spiral about said drum, means for continuously rotating the drum, a hopper on one sideof the drum, means for applying suction within said drum, a cutoff block within the lower portion of the drum, a conveyor movable longitudinally of the drum and adapted to present open containers opposite the successive drum apertures, and means for adjusting said conveyor to and from the drum surface.

5. In combination, an open ended drum having a series of apertures on its surface arranged spirally about said drum, a shaft for rotating the drum, roller bearings for the open end of the drum, a hopper on one side of the drum, means for applying suction withinsaid drum, a cutoff block within the lower portion Qf the drum, and means for adjusting the position of the block angularly.

6. In combination, an open ended drum having a series of apertures on its surface arranged spirally about said drum, a shaft for rotating the drum, roller lbearings for the open end of the drum, a hopper on one side of the drum, means for applying suction within said drum, a cutoff block within the lower portion of the drum and means in the block for driving jets of compressed air outwardly through the apertures of the drum.

7. In combination, an open ended drum having a series of apertures on its surface arranged sp-irally about said drum, a shaft for rotating .the drum, roller .bearings for the open end of the drum, a hopper on one side of the drum, means for applying suction within said drum, a cutoff block within the lower portion of the drum, passageways along a longitudinal edge of the block, and means for driving jets of compressed air from said passageways against the interior surface of the drum.

8. In combination, an open ended drum having a 'series of apertures on.its surface arranged spirally about said drum, a hollow shaft for rotating the drum, roller bearings for the open end of the drum, a hopper on one side of the drum, means for applying suction within the drum through the hollow shaft, la cutoff block within the lower portion of the drum and means in the edge of the block for driving jets of compressed air outwardly against the inner surface of the drum.

9. In combination, an open ended drum having a series of apertures on its surface, a hollow shaft for rotating the drum, roller bearings for the open end of the drum, a hopper on one side of the drum, means for applying suction within the drum through the hollow shaft, a cuto block within the lower portion of the drum, an axially adjustable partition across the open end of the drum and means in the edge of the block for counteracting the suction.

10. In combination, an open ended drum having a series of 4apertures on its surface arranged spirally about said drum, a shaft for rotating the drum, a hopper on one side of the drum, means for applying suction within the drum, a fixed member within the drum forming a suction chamber and means on the side of the drum opposite the hopper to receive articles carried over from the hopper by the suction through the drum.

11. In combination, an open ended drum having a series of apertures on its surface, a shaft for rotating the drum, roller bearings for the open end of the drum, a hopper on one side of the drum, means for applying suction within the drum, means for interrupting the suction through the apertures during part of the rotation of the drum, and means to adjust the length of the drum through which the suction is effective to engage the articles in the hopper.

I2. In combination, an open ended drum having a series of apertures on its surface arranged spirally about said drum, a shaft for rotating the drum, roller bearings for the open end of the drum, a hopper on one side of the drum, means for applying suction within the drum, means for interrupting the suction through the apertures during part of the rotation of the drum, a partition across the open end of the drum and means to adjust the partition axially of the drum.

13. In combination, an open ended drum having a series of apertures on its surface arranged spirally about said drum, a shaft for rotating the drum, roller bearings for the open end of the drum, a hopper on one side of the drum, means for applying suction within the drum, means for interrupting the suction through the apertures during part of the rotation of the drum, a partition across the open end of the drum and a threaded shaft carrying the partition axially of the drum.

14. In combination, an open ended drum having a series of apertures on its surface arranged spirally about said drum, a shaft for rotating the drum, roller bearings for the open end of the drum, a hopper on one side of the drum, means for applying suction Within the drum, means for interrupting the suction through the apertures during part of the rotation of the drum, a partition across the open end of the drum, a threaded shaft carrying the partition, axially of the drum and indicating means to show the position of the partition relative to the end of the drum.

15. In combination, an open ended drum having a series of apertures on its surface arranged spirally about said drum, a shaft for rotating the drum, a standard beyond the open end of the drum, said open end of the drum being revolubly carried by the standard, a hopper on one side of the drum, means for applying suction within the drum, a cutoff member xedly mounted on the standard vand projecting within the drum and means axially adjustable of the drum to vary the extent of the effective suction through the apertures of the drum.

16. In combination, an open ended drum having a series of apertures on its surface arranged spirally about said drum, a shaft for rotating the drum, a standard beyond the open end of the drum, said open end of the drum being revolubly carried by the standard, a hopper on one side of the drum, means for applying suction within the drum, a cutoff member fixedly mounted on the standard and projecting within the drum` and a side wall of the hopper movable axially of the drum.

17. In combination, a drum having a spiral series of apertures on its surface, means for rotating the drum, a standard beyond the end of the drum, said end of the drum being revolubly carried by the standard, a hopper on one side of the drum, means for applying suction within the drum, a cutoff member xedly mounted on the standard and projecting Within the drum, means to vary the extent of the effective suction through the apertures of the drum, receptacle conveying means along the side of the drum opposite the hopper and means for rotating the drum and simultaneously advancing the conveyor to present each receptacle beneath every aperture successively as the latter reaches 

